Preliminary Study on the Impact of 900MHz Radiation on Human Sperm: An In Vitro Molecular Approach

Overview

The exponential increase in the use of technologies that generate electromagnetic fields (EMF), including mobile phones and wireless devices, raises concern about possible biological health effects. Recent years have seen a surge in research using both in vitro and in vivo methods to investigate these effects. With male-factor infertility accounting for nearly half of infertility cases globally, assessing the impact of EMF on male reproductive health is increasingly urgent.

Study Design

This study analyzed the direct in vitro effects of exposure to 900 MHz radiation on sperm parameters, genetic status, apoptotic markers, and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in semen samples from healthy, normozoospermic men.

• Semen samples were split into four groups:
• Two control groups (30 min and 1 h)
• Two EMF-exposed groups (30 min and 1 h)
• Parameters studied included sperm motility, progressive motility, acrosomal index, and morphology; genetic status (DNA fragmentation and chromatin integrity); apoptotic markers (cytokine-c and caspase-3 expression); and PI3K/AKT pathway activity.

Findings

• 30-minute EMF exposure caused a significant reduction in sperm motility.
• 1-hour EMF exposure led to a notable increase in p-AKT expression.
• Both EMF-exposed groups showed increased vacuolization, acrosomal defects, extension of subacrosomal space, uncondensed chromatin, signs of apoptosis, and disrupted axoneme—none of which were found in control groups.
• Other parameters (morphology, acrosomal index), genetic status, apoptotic markers, and the PI3K expression rates showed no significant change.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that exposure to 900 MHz EMF can induce negative molecular and cellular changes in human sperm in vitro, affecting both structure and function, and implicating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Such data highlight a connection between EMF exposure and potential risks to male fertility.